Gate-latch



0. E. POTTER. GATE LATCH.

(Application filed Oct. 18, 1808.)

Patented May 23, I899.

(No Model.)

W/ T/VE SSE 8 IN VE N 70/? A TTOHIVEYS.

, NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER EDWARD POTTER, or CAMERON, MISSOURI.

GATE -LATCH.

srncrrr'cnrron formingpart of Letters Patent no. 625,602, dated May 23, 1899.

Application filed. October 18, 1 898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER EDWARD Por- TEE, of Cameron, in the county of Clinton and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Latch for Gates, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in I latches for securing gates, particularly double gates, or those consisting of two parts'which swing toward each other and have their ends in contact or adjacent when closed.

My invention comprises the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a gate having my latch applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the latch in detail.

As previously stated, this latch is intended to apply to double gates, or those constructed in two parts which swing toward each other and are pivoted at opposite sides of the opening which they close. The two parts of the gate are shown at B and B, the same being pivoted upon posts A and A. Upon one of the halves of the gate, as the half B, is pivoted a latch, which consists of two bars D, pivoted one upon each side of the half B of the gate and extending toward the end of and beyond the same. The free ends of the bars D are curved outward, as shown at E, and are adapted to receive between them the end of the other half B of the gate. The two bars D, are connected by a cross-bar G, which lies immediately outside the end of the half 13 upon which the latch is pivoted. Eachlatch is also provided with a downwardly-extendin g tooth H, adapted to engage staples F, located in proper position upon the other half B of the gate. The outer sides of the teeth H are beveled, so that when they engage the staples F the latch will be raised until the tooth passes over the sides of the staple. A stop device is provided for limiting the downward drop of the latch and consists of a pin 1, which extends through the gate, or of two pins located one upon each side thereof. The latch is held down by means of a springM and is raised by means of a rod J, which is connected to the cross-bar G and extends upward, being Serial No. 693,885. (No model.)

connected at its upper end with a bell-crank lever K, pivoted upon the upper side of the half B of the gate. The bell-crank lever is operated by means of a rod or cord L, which extends to any convenient point, or the latch may be directly engaged by hand and raised.

The twohalves of the gate are preferably connected by some mechanism which will in sure their being swung together. As herein shown, this mechanism consists of cranks N upon the lower end ofthe gate-pivots, which are connected by a bar 0, said bar being mounted to slide in a block P, which is pivoted centrally between the two gate-pivots. A mechanism such as this facilitates the operation of the gate, but it is not strictly es sential. As the gates swing together the edge of the half B enters between the flaring ends of the latch, the staples F at the same time engaging the inclined surfaces of the teeth H to raise the latch and cause the teeth to drop within the staples.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A gate composed of two parts pivoted to swing toward and from each other, a double latch upon one half of the gate, comprising toothed plates pivoted one upon each side of the gate, the outer or free ends thereof flaring outward to form a guide to properly register the two halves of the gate, and locking projections upon each side of the other half of the gate, engageable by the toothed plates.

2. A gate composed of two halves connected to swing toward and from each other, one half of the gate having two latches, each pivoted one on each side of said half of the gate and provided with a tooth'upon its lower outer OLIVER EDWARD POTTER.

WVitnesses:

D. B. DIXON, J. M. CAMPBELL. 

